Prendergast powers home late on Follower Niall Prendergast produced Paul Hennessy’s Faithful Follower with a well-timed late charge to land the spoils in the opening Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Maiden Hurdle at Kilbeggan. The 7/1 shot was held up early in the two-miler and took closer order behind the leaders going to the last flight. Long-time leader Granpa Ger was joined by 8/15 favourite Astelia over the last but the pair were trumped in the closing stages as Faithful Follower powered home to score by a length-and-a-half. Prendergast said:- He had a massive chance. He was unlucky last time, Donagh Meyler got a bad enough fall off him in Bellewstown. “It knocked a bit of confidence out of the horse and he was galloping through a couple of hurdles, it did no harm as it was slowing him down. He took some pull today, settling him out the back. “He improved immensely and hopefully he can keep going forward. “Paul is very simple to ride for. I rang him before about ten times, I was overcomplicating it. He said ‘lad do whatever you want, I’m happy whatever you want to do’. “I was half thinking about dropping him out and then I said I’d drop him out third last. He started lighting up a bit on me and took me into places I didn’t really want to be that soon in the race. “I was able to get him back and he switched off a small bit. They started racing early so I was happy enough there. “Paul is a genius of a man. He’s been through the mill with the dogs, good days and bad days. He’s a great ambassador for any sport or anything he does. Personally he’s very good to me.” The winners dam is a half-sister to former stable star Heaven Help Us and Prendergast added:- “We have Heaven Help Us at home, the mother is at home and his brothers are at home. They’d all talk to you, a bit like him. He’s kind of a family pet, he’d more talk to you than do what you want him to do sometimes. “Days like today when you can kind of cod him along and let him think he’s the boss suits him down to the ground. Hopefully he can keep improving.”
